Went to the boundary waters as a teenager, absolutely beautiful country. Also had a burger on the way down that had ham on it, I was starving and sleep deprived but that still (nearly 20 years later) comes into my mind when I think of the best burgers I’ve had.
I also drove through Minnesota when crossing the country and found like a 2 quart margarita (I opted for a smaller version) next to some random hotel I was stopping at.
TL;DR Minnesota is the perfect state
Only place I’ve been to in MN is the Cities, and even those have some pretty good nature-y areas. I’d like to make my way to a more rural area some day. I think I’ll actually be headed to Mpls. for a wedding this summer. Any decent areas that wouldn’t be packed with tourists or summer lake cabin people?
Basically anything near the cities won’t have much for tourists, or summer cabin people (they mostly go North). Twin Cities isn’t a big tourist destination.
Lake Minnetonka is pretty cool in the summer. It’s the biggest lake in the Twin Cities area. There are restaurants and bars you can access by boat or car. Lot’s of people like to hang out on “the big island” sand bar.
Lebanon Hills is a cool area too. That is close by for me. It has lots of hiking, mtn biking, and swimming.
If you are feeling more like bar hopping, North East MPLS is really cool. Lots of old dive bars, breweries and odd stuff in general.
Mille Lacs Lake or the boundary waters. Also check out the St Croix river areas.
I also recommend interstate state park in Wisconsin (just over the MN/Wi) border
My mom became a “big” fan of Dunkin Donuts after living in MA for a couple of years. It’s like the images of Dunkin Donuts everywhere seeped into her brain, causing her to point out every single Dunkin Donuts she sees here in CA and wanting to go there for donuts every once in a while.
There is literally a far better small donut store closer to her house that we’ve bought from a couple of times and enjoyed, and yet Dunkin Donut is where she goes for donuts.
Those are great spots if leaving the Twin Cities. I’d add Duluth to the outside of Twin Cities list. It has elevation change and being on the water makes it kinda seem like being on a west coast city.
If you go up a little past Duluth, the North shore is really nice.
Damn. I had no idea that state looked so cool
MN does have some cool spots for sure. Taylor’s falls mentioned by @cyclonengineer is cool. I was climbing there (on the Wisconsin side of the river), and a girl fell from the Minnesota side cliffs. She was fine, but it was pretty scary at the time. That is near the cities (40 minutes), but it will likely be busy @jshaving
The really cool stuff can be kinda spread out though. In the Twin Cities area, there is lots to do though if you are raising kids. Most neighborhoods have multiple parks. Walking and biking trails are plentyful. It is one of the top cycling cities even with the brutal winters. This is a map of one of the parks near me (5 minute drive), but we have 3 or so small parks that are a couple minute walk. MN (especially the cities, puts a lot into their parks).
I am just pimping MN at this point though.
Were you raised there or did you move later in life?
You’re killing me. I miss Duluth on a pretty regular basis.
Go Bulldogs.
I was raised in MN, lived in the Twin Cities area most of my life. I did live in Willmar MN (central MN) for 8 months.
It isn’t the coolest spot I’ve been to, but I can’t afford those areas lol. The housing market has certainly gone up, but it isn’t nearly as bad as a few places I have friends living. A decent house in the Twin Cities can be had for under 350K I think. Which sounds like a lot writing it, but just a few years ago those were $250K houses.
The jobs available are pretty good too for the price of houses and available things to do. 3M, Target, Cargill, Medtronic (lots of Medical device stuff) are all here (although Medtronic merged, so I don’t know if that is true, still lots of employees here).
Did you play Hockey for UMD?
I’m nearly positive that’s the place my friends and I randomly chose on a map to go skate and shenanigan in HS. I was living just across the border in SD at the time.
I wish! Funny enough, I wasn’t actually even playing hockey at that time. I grew up playing in Maine, but then stopped and picked it back up again as an adult.
I would long board around town when I lived there. To be honest though, living there made me realize how nice the Twin Cities are.
I wanted to play so bad growing up, but my parents didn’t have the time (I have a very disabled brother that took a lot of their time), and they also didn’t want to spend all the money that is involved with hockey.
I confess that I’ve spent well over $10,000 on hockey and I still don’t know how to skate.
It is some of the best money I’ve ever spent. I’m glad I was able to spend it that way. The god-like power to impose hockey consequences at any moment was our ace card for a decade.
You’re speaking my language with that last photo.
If you were to ask people what state that photo is from, I bet Minnesota is way down the list.
I may have done that route? I did one near that route which required two pitches. One of the first traditional climbs I’ve done. Wasn’t so that hard, but I was shaking with nerves after.
Am i the only one that notices this with minivan drivers?
Not flaming you if you’re a minivan driver, but if you are either one of these drivers - please do explain
If you’re transporting a bunch of drugs around town it’s cool to drive a little slow in an inconspicuous vehicle.
I’ll be honest, this is the only explanation me and my wife could come up with for the single dude…
-Driving 45mph so he doesn’t get pulled over
or
-Driving 95mph because the cops are onto him
Still doesn’t explain the car full of kid scenario, unless its actually a car full of kids AND drugs…
Looks just like Acadia National Park haha.
